THE BOKI PROJECT – PART 1 By Engr. K. A. Odok

THE BOKI PROJECT – PART 1

Clamoring for creation of a state or local government area is for the purpose of Autonomy. I grow-up to know Boki tribe under Ikom Local Government Area, but was told by my father that they was a time we have Boki – Ikom and Boki – Ogoja. At that time Eastern Boki and Abo were under Ikom LGA, while western Boki (Osokom 1&2 and Irruan) were under Ogoja LGA.

According to Cambridge English Dictionary; the word Autonomy and his junior brother Autonomous are Noun and Adjective respectively meaning “the right of a country or region to be independent and self-governed”. For the purpose of Autonomy to become Autonomous, Boki tribe started clamoring for a local government. By His Grace, our prayers was heard and a local government name and called Boki Local Government Area was created on 28th August, 1991 (29 years, 6 months and 18 days today). I know of female children born on this day and date who are married with three children or more now. This signify that Boki is old enough to have given birth to many things in order for her to be self-sufficient and self-reliance.

The big question is; Are we truly autonomous?

I was home between December 22nd 2019 to January 3rd 2020 and still having very fresh memories of banking Transaction which are either in Ogoja or exorbitant POS charges with cash limitations. Also my Eastern Boki friends goes to Ikom or Obudu to get Cash. My brothers and Sisters, if Boki local government area after 29 years of creation still depend on Ikom and Ogoja for banking transactions, then I still see myself in the era of Boki-Ikom and Boki-Ogoja.

I wish to say a big thank you to a true Boki Son Mr. John Owan (MD Unical Micro-Finance Bank) for siting a branch of the bank in Okundi, but because of its operational limitations we still have transactions challenges. 

Boki still depend on Ikom and Ogoja for Tertiary education, because the closet Polytechnic is Nogak Polytechnic Ikom and the Closet University is CRUTECH Ogoja Campus.

More than 50% of Nogak Polytechnic Students are of Boki extraction. When will Boki have one? So that house rent we pay to Ikom Land Lords, exorbitant fees and many more will remain in Boki land and own by Boki sons and daughters to enhance Boki economy.

I thank God for Dr. Martin Jolly Ekpang for establishing a College of Health Technology in Okundi. Dr. Ekpang pick up this challenge and inspiration from a Private College of Health Technology Gboko when his younger sister who was a student there at a time was suspended for late resumption and he when to solicit as a guidance, but discovered it was a kind of humiliation and victimization of other tribe by the TIV in Benue State. Today Dr. Ekpang has saved our young girls from humiliation not just in school, but in Town where there reside. He has equally saved parents from cost of funding.

By the next academic section, another University facilitated by Hon Jones Tangban may resume academic activities in Ikom and Boki children will certainly top their admission list.

My people, when are we expecting a Commercial Bank in Boki land?

Who will join Dr. Martins Jolly Ekpang to pick up another challenge to Kick-off a Polytechnic or a University in Boki?

The Boki Project who will take it up?

I remained your Son,
Engr. Kingsley Odok